I'm posting here in the hopes that someone could give me some advice on what to do-
I've got a resin based head that needs some help to be wearable. The only problem(s)? I know what needs to be done with it, but I'm a complete novice at the actual DOING of fursuit making, I don't have any tools or supplies, and I have very limited funds.
Long story semi-shortened- this head is only two (okay, possibly going on three?) years old. I'm the second owner. It was made as a pre-made, bought by someone before me and as far as I know they never wore it, and then I purchased it. I (possibly) made the mistake of thinking two things- firstly, that a suit that was only two years old and hadn't been worn shouldn't have any problems and secondly, thinking that just because it was made by what I knew as a reputable maker it should be fine. Well, it's not fine- and why this paragraph is relevant? Because I spent more on this than I probably should, and as such, I really don't want to have to put another couple hundred dollars into this thing to make it wearable.
What's wrong with the head?
WELL.
1. The resin base it's built off of is warped to begin with. This means two things- it's hard to wear, and the jaw movement is absolute crap. The solution I came up with? The whole thing is going to have to be stripped down, heated up, and re-formed.
2. The tear-ducts are absolutely tiny. Now, I've owned other heads (of all varieties!) and this head has, by far, the worst vision. Not only that... but the original maker used... window screen mesh for the tear ducts. Let that sink in a moment. Window screen mesh. Pokey metal by someone's eyes. My solution? When it's stripped, the mesh needs to be ripped out, ducts enlarged, and the mesh replaced with something NOT dangerous.
3. The hinges on the jaw were hot-glued on. Now, as I said before, I'm a total novice- but even I know that virgin resin and hot glue do NOT get along. Combine the poorly attached hinges with the warped blank and you get hinges that pop off every time you try and make the jaw move. Add in that the tear ducts are tiny and you get terrible ventilation issues. I think another aspect of the issue is that the fur on the cheek, er mouth(?) area is very tight and hinders the jaw movement even further. My solution? When it's stripped and finally re-formed, some holes need to be dremel-ed into this thing so the hinges can be attached properly.
4. The airbrushing/fur pattern is uneven. Not because the blank is uneven- the blank was foamed up enough that the shape itself is symmetrical... but the maker sewed the pattern and airbrushed the markings... lopsided. As much as I would like to keep the fur that's on the head and keep the design, this means that parts of the head will have to be scrapped. Not to mention that the airbrushing is, er, crunchy? I don't expect the airbrushed spots to be as soft as the rest of the head, but I also don't expect crunchy, either. The airbrushing is also really drastic- it doesn't highlight so much as it's just "BAM, AIRBRUSHING!" Solution? Honestly, I don't know. I don't think there's any way to fix this aside from refurring part (if not all) of the head.
Minor problems (some that I don't have a problem with, some that I do)-
The eyes are LED resin eyes. They've got some bubbling. The bubbling itself actually doesn't bother me, as I think it really gives the character some pizazz- but I'm worried about what would need to be done (since the tearducts need to be made larger).
The ears on the character are actually pretty well done. I don't have too many complaints on them, except for the fact that the ears are glued to the horns on the head (which are super flat and somewhat cracked) and glued to the head itself for a "laid back" look.
The jawset and tongue are hand made, and they're actually really charming! Problem is, they're both too big and set wrong in the mouth- I think that maybe the upper lips/muzzle could be shaped outwards just a little to make room for the jawset but I honestly don't know?
Finally, I'm just really torn over this head. As mentioned above, it's made by a pretty well known maker who's always had (what I thought was) good work before, and so I spent probably more on it than I should have- but I expected a sound, fully wearable head! I tried to contact the maker about a refurbishment, but when I started carefully bringing up what needed an update (I was already really nervous, I never know how people are going to take criticism(?) on their work) said maker just dropped contact? I know they were around because I saw them posting things to FA, but I sent a couple of emails and with no response I just kinda gave up. I just... I really don't want to invest any more money in this head, and I can't fix it myself.
Should I just give up on this thing and try to sell it? Should I attempt the fixes myself with such limited experience? Should I trade it?
TL;DR-
1. OP was misguided in beliefs, spent more on head than probably should have- so doesn't want to invest much more into this thing.
2. OP has no tools and very little skill in repairing/making a head.
3. Head is unwearable for a number of reasons, primarily in base function but also aesthetically-
a. Base itself is warped, meaning discomfort in wearing, faulty jaw function.
b. Tear ducts are very small and covered with metal window screen mesh. Dangerous for multiple reasons.
c. Hinges on jaw are hot-glued to the base. This, coupled with lopsided base, means jaw does not work. Also, poor ventilation.
d. Aesthetically, fur pattern and airbrushing are noticeably uneven. Horns are very flat and cracked. Jawset an issue.
4. OP has attempted to contact initial maker about this, original maker initially interested then loses contact.
5. OP has no clue what to do and is frustrated. Rambling and some bawwing ensues. Sell? Trade? Attempt to fix?
Please help!
I've got a resin based head that needs some help to be wearable. The only problem(s)? I know what needs to be done with it, but I'm a complete novice at the actual DOING of fursuit making, I don't have any tools or supplies, and I have very limited funds.
Long story semi-shortened- this head is only two (okay, possibly going on three?) years old. I'm the second owner. It was made as a pre-made, bought by someone before me and as far as I know they never wore it, and then I purchased it. I (possibly) made the mistake of thinking two things- firstly, that a suit that was only two years old and hadn't been worn shouldn't have any problems and secondly, thinking that just because it was made by what I knew as a reputable maker it should be fine. Well, it's not fine- and why this paragraph is relevant? Because I spent more on this than I probably should, and as such, I really don't want to have to put another couple hundred dollars into this thing to make it wearable.
What's wrong with the head?
WELL.
1. The resin base it's built off of is warped to begin with. This means two things- it's hard to wear, and the jaw movement is absolute crap. The solution I came up with? The whole thing is going to have to be stripped down, heated up, and re-formed.
2. The tear-ducts are absolutely tiny. Now, I've owned other heads (of all varieties!) and this head has, by far, the worst vision. Not only that... but the original maker used... window screen mesh for the tear ducts. Let that sink in a moment. Window screen mesh. Pokey metal by someone's eyes. My solution? When it's stripped, the mesh needs to be ripped out, ducts enlarged, and the mesh replaced with something NOT dangerous.
3. The hinges on the jaw were hot-glued on. Now, as I said before, I'm a total novice- but even I know that virgin resin and hot glue do NOT get along. Combine the poorly attached hinges with the warped blank and you get hinges that pop off every time you try and make the jaw move. Add in that the tear ducts are tiny and you get terrible ventilation issues. I think another aspect of the issue is that the fur on the cheek, er mouth(?) area is very tight and hinders the jaw movement even further. My solution? When it's stripped and finally re-formed, some holes need to be dremel-ed into this thing so the hinges can be attached properly.
4. The airbrushing/fur pattern is uneven. Not because the blank is uneven- the blank was foamed up enough that the shape itself is symmetrical... but the maker sewed the pattern and airbrushed the markings... lopsided. As much as I would like to keep the fur that's on the head and keep the design, this means that parts of the head will have to be scrapped. Not to mention that the airbrushing is, er, crunchy? I don't expect the airbrushed spots to be as soft as the rest of the head, but I also don't expect crunchy, either. The airbrushing is also really drastic- it doesn't highlight so much as it's just "BAM, AIRBRUSHING!" Solution? Honestly, I don't know. I don't think there's any way to fix this aside from refurring part (if not all) of the head.
Minor problems (some that I don't have a problem with, some that I do)-
The eyes are LED resin eyes. They've got some bubbling. The bubbling itself actually doesn't bother me, as I think it really gives the character some pizazz- but I'm worried about what would need to be done (since the tearducts need to be made larger).
The ears on the character are actually pretty well done. I don't have too many complaints on them, except for the fact that the ears are glued to the horns on the head (which are super flat and somewhat cracked) and glued to the head itself for a "laid back" look.
The jawset and tongue are hand made, and they're actually really charming! Problem is, they're both too big and set wrong in the mouth- I think that maybe the upper lips/muzzle could be shaped outwards just a little to make room for the jawset but I honestly don't know?
Finally, I'm just really torn over this head. As mentioned above, it's made by a pretty well known maker who's always had (what I thought was) good work before, and so I spent probably more on it than I should have- but I expected a sound, fully wearable head! I tried to contact the maker about a refurbishment, but when I started carefully bringing up what needed an update (I was already really nervous, I never know how people are going to take criticism(?) on their work) said maker just dropped contact? I know they were around because I saw them posting things to FA, but I sent a couple of emails and with no response I just kinda gave up. I just... I really don't want to invest any more money in this head, and I can't fix it myself.
Should I just give up on this thing and try to sell it? Should I attempt the fixes myself with such limited experience? Should I trade it?
TL;DR-
1. OP was misguided in beliefs, spent more on head than probably should have- so doesn't want to invest much more into this thing.
2. OP has no tools and very little skill in repairing/making a head.
3. Head is unwearable for a number of reasons, primarily in base function but also aesthetically-
a. Base itself is warped, meaning discomfort in wearing, faulty jaw function.
b. Tear ducts are very small and covered with metal window screen mesh. Dangerous for multiple reasons.
c. Hinges on jaw are hot-glued to the base. This, coupled with lopsided base, means jaw does not work. Also, poor ventilation.
d. Aesthetically, fur pattern and airbrushing are noticeably uneven. Horns are very flat and cracked. Jawset an issue.
4. OP has attempted to contact initial maker about this, original maker initially interested then loses contact.
5. OP has no clue what to do and is frustrated. Rambling and some bawwing ensues. Sell? Trade? Attempt to fix?
Please help!